The chefs at WHB work countless hours making, preparing, and serving the food that almost everyone in the Westhampton Beach School District eats. Most people do not know who are behind the food. These are the “Chefs of WHB.”

Chef Robert Smalls Jr. is the head chef at the high school.  He worked for 20 years in food service for the military. After that the first school he worked at was as Suffolk Community College.  Since August of 2013, he has been working at the high school. He says he is a people person – he likes everyone. He loves to cook and make food that the students would like to eat. He likes to cook his homemade fried/baked chicken at the school.

The middle school cook, Chef Harpaul, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Previously he worked at Southold and at a top restaurant in the city. He found the job at the middle school through an advertisement on Craigslist. He was working nights then but hated it he wanted to work either mornings or afternoons.  Like Chief Smalls Jr. he is also people person. He wants to influence the students with food and make the food as healthy as possible.

Chef Tymaine, the assistant cook at the HS for two years, has been cooking since he was very young. When he moved to NY from Florida he first worked at Bridgehampton High School, then he found a job posting to be the assistant cook at the WHBHS on Craiglist. He knew that it would be the perfect fit for him. He loves to cook, he loves the kids, and he loves to make his job as fun as possible, striving to make everything the right way. He says that working at the high school has a great atmosphere and everyone works together as a team.

Chef Folley is the head chef at the elementary school who started cooking 35 years ago. He says he has worked “everywhere” but the restaurant business drove him nuts. Not wanting to work restaurants anymore, he found a job in the WHB district.  He first worked at the high school but he got moved to the elementary school. He loves to cook, and says his wife is “not allowed to cook, especially during the holidays.” He has also developed the “Folley Sauce,” a secret sauce that he uses on his food.

Each one of these chefs has his own unique story. But they all share the same passion: cooking.  Be sure to stop down to the HS cafeteria and try Chef Robert’s soup of the day.  You will not be disappointed!